Latch



Nov. 10, 1942. R. NiARPLE 2,301,560

LATCH Original Filed Aug. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \J/ I". 124 i ,0 2 "W Z, M I INVENTOR 544 F0270 Mgr 1e.

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Nov. 10, 1942 MARPLE 2,301,560

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Original Filed Aug., 18, 1957 2 Sheetls-Sheet 2 m- III a E". E 770110 M gi/i? A TTORNE ysl Patented Nov. 10, 1942" LATCH Rollo Marple, Jackson, Mich, assignor to Hancock Manufacturing Company, Jackson, Mich a corporation oi Michigan Original application August 18, 1937, Serial No. 159,746, now Patent No. 2,195,179, dated March 26, 1940. Divided and this application December 11, 1939, Serial No. 908,511

9 Claims.

filed August 18, 1937, entitled Locking device;

now Patent No. 2,195,179, granted March 26, 1940.

Objects oi the invention are to provide an improved door lock and keeper particularly adapted for use on vehicle doors or the like,

characterized as being simple in construction, economical of manufacture, and extremely durable and emcient in operation; to provide a lock of the rotary bolt type, embodying an improved construction of rotary bolt, adapted to co-operate in an improved manner with one or a plurality of actuating dogs therefor; to provide a lock of the rotary bolt type embodying an improved construction and arrangement of the several parts thereof, to accommodate the lock to limited space requirements; and to generally improve the construction and operation of vehicle door locks and keepers therefor.

With the above, as well as other objects in view, which appear in the following description and in the appended claims, preferred but illus- I trative embodiments of the present invention, are shown in the accompanying drawings, throughout the several views of which corresponding reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation, illus rating the Fig. 4, but showing the parts in a different stage of a door closing movement;

-Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section, taken along the line'll of Fig. 4; and,

Figs. 8 and 9 are views in rear and side elevation, respectively, of a modified bolt retracting means which may be used in the practice of the invention.

'll'he improved lock, which is secured within the door 20 of the associated vehicle, comprises generally a casing member 22; a rotary bolt 24; a'plurality of dogs designated collectively as 26, for holding the bolt against rotation in a door. opening direction; an outside operated roll-back 28, for releasing the dogs 28 from the bolt 24 in response to movement of the conventional outside handle; and an inside retracting member 30, which may be operated in response to the conventional inside door handle, or the like, ,to release the dogs 28 from operative engagement with the bolt. The keeper 32, which is described in more detail below, is suitably secured to the door pillar 24, as by means of a bracket 36.

The bolt 24, is rotatably journaled in the lock casing upon a trunnion or pin 40. One end of the pin 40 is supported in the flange 42 of a bracket 44, which is suitably secured as by welding to the flange 46 of the previously identified lock casing 22. The other end of the pin 40 is supported in a supplemental casing member 49, which is suitably secured to the inner face of the flange 43.

. The bolt 24 is formed to provide a keeper engaging portion 50 which projects externally of the lock casing 22 for cooperation with the keeper 32; an inner or dog engaging portion 52; and a separating fin or vane 54 which is somewhat larger in diameter than the portions 50 and 52, and serves to substantially close the opening 55 which is provided in the flange 46 of the casing 22 to accommodate the bolt. The lower half of the outwardly projecting portion 50 of the bolt 24 is substantially enclosed by the previously mentioned bracket 44, which is given a substantially semi-cylindrical form for this purpose.

As most clearly appears in Figs. 3 and 7, the outer portion 50 of the bolt 24 is formed to provide a plurality of radially extending, equi angularly spaced keeper engaging teeth or projections of teeth 50a, any one of which is eilective as described hereinafter to cooperate with either the safety catch associated with the keeper, or the keeper portion 62 associated therewith, to hold the door in either the partially closed or safety position, or the fully closed position, respectively. It will be appreciated that the angular spacing between the projections and teeth 50a, relative to the spacing between the safety catch 60 and the keeper portion 62, is such that the bolt 24 can roll over or across the keeper in a manner similar to the cooperation between a gear and a rack,

As most, clearly appears in Figs. 4, 6 and 7, the inner portion 52 of the bolt 24 is formed to provide a number of dog engag ng teeth or projections 82a, the number and angular spacing between which corresponds to the number and angular spacing of the keeper engaging teeth 80a. The teeth 82a, however, are angularly displaced from the teeth 80a. This relation results in reducing the space requirements of the lock, since the positions of the dogs can thus be determined independently of the rotative positions of the teeth 804. Each tooth 52a is formed to provide a generally radially extending dog releasing portion 64, and a locking portion 88.

The dogs 28 are provided to cooperate with the locking portion 88 of the bolt 24 to hold the bolt 24 against rotation in a clockwise or door opening direction, as viewed-in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. It is preferred to utilize a plurality of such dogs of progressively increasing length, to provide a take-up action for the lock, as hereinafter described. In the present instance, three dogs are illustrated, although a smaller or a larger number may be utilized if desired.

The three dogs, designated as a whole as 28, are rotatably supported in the lock casing upon a pin or trimnion 10,. which extends parallel to but spaced from the previously mentioned bolt supporting pin 40. The outer end of the pin is supported in a member I2, the inner flanges I4 of which are secured to the inner face of the casing flange 46, and the outwardly extending body portion of which serves, as most clearly appears in Figs. 3 and I, as a dovetail member. The inner end of the pin I0 is supported in the previously mentioned supplemental casing member 48. Each of three dogs, which are individually designated as l8, l8 and 80, includes a downwardly extending body, which terminates in a laterally offset foot. The dog 16 is slightly longer than the dog I8, and the dog I8, in turn, is slightly longer than the dog 80. Each of the dogs l8, l8 and 88 is provided with a biasing spring 82 individual thereto. One end of each spring is secured between a pair of lugs 84, which are inwardly struck from the casing flange 48, and the free end of each spring 82 bears against the edge of the associated dog and so continuously urges it in a counter-clockwise or locking direction, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 6.

The outside roll-back 28 is illustrated as being conventionally pivotally supported in the base 88 of the casing 22, for rotation by the conventional door spindle 88. The outer end of the rollback member 28 normally bears against a retracting link 80, which is slidably supported adjacent the casing base 88, and also serves, as hereinafter described, to cooperate with the locking mechanism to lock the outside roll-back 28 against actuation. The link 80 is provided with a laterally offset foot 82, which normally bears against a rearwardly extending shoulder 84 formed on the dog 80. A spring 88, suitably secured to the casing base 86, continuously bears against a second shoulder 88, formed on the link 80, and so urges it, as well as the roll-back 28, to the illustrated normal or locked position.

The inside retracting link 80 is pivotally supported upon the base 88 of the casing 22, as by means of a pin I80. One end I02 of the link 88 is adapted for connection to the conventional link mechanism (not shown) which may extend to an inside door operating handle. The other end I04 of the inside actuating link is formed as a foot, for cooperation with the previously mentioned dog shoulder 84.

In order to render the dogs I8 and I8 respon- 'sive to the movement of the dog 80, as influenced by the shoulder 84 provided thereon, the dog 80 is provided with a laterally turned portion I08, which extends around and behind the rear edges of the dogs 16 and 18. With the just described arrangement, it will be appreciated that clockwise rotation of the outside roll-back 28, as

viewed in Fig. 5, causes the link 80 to move downwardly. The engagement between the foot 82 of the link 90 and the shoulder 94 associated with the dog 80, causes the downward movement of the link 80 to be accompanied by a clockwise rotation of the three dogs I8, 18 and 80, as viewed in Figs. 4 to 6, thereby releasing the dogs from the bolt 24, and permitting the latter to be rotated in a clockwise or door opening direction. The same action also results from a counterclockwise rotation of the inside link 30, the end I04 whereof bears against the shoulder 84 associated with the dog 80. Upon releasing either the outside roll-back 28 or the inside contracting ring 30, however, as the case may be, the springs 82 associated with the several dogs are eilective to urge the dogs to the locking position shown in Fig. 4.

In order to lock the link 80 against downward movement, and so render the outside roll-back 28 ineffective to actuate the dog, the segmentally formed locking device H0 is provided. It will be appreciated that the member H0 is pivotally supported in the base 86 of casing 22, for rotation in response to a key-actuated spindle II2. In the unlocked position, shown in full lines in Fig. 5, the segmental member H0 is out of the path of the lower end of the link 80, so that it is ineflective to prevent or control such movement of the link 80. If the member 0 is rotated to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, however, the body thereof is disposed in the path of movement of the lower end of the link 80, and prevents downward movement thereof. In addition to the foregoing locking arrangement for the outside roll-back 28, it will be noted that the inside retracting link 30 is provided with a projection Ill. Upon rotation of the links 80 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, the projection III is moved into the path of and in blocking relation to the outside roll-back 28, thereby preventing rotation thereof in an unlocking direction. To release the roll-back 28 from the just mentioned locking action, the link 30 may be returned to the position shown in Fig. 5, and such return movement is automatically effected by the downward movement of the cam foot 84, which occurs during the hereinafter described closing movement of the door, and for this purpose, the lever I02 is provided with a shoulder, spaced somewhat below the nose I04 thereof, for engagement by the cam foot 84.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the keeper 82 comprises a body, which may be and preferably is formed as a relatively heavy metal stamping, and which is formed to define the previously mentioned bolt engaging surface 82. The previously mentioned safety catch 80 is and may be formed as a die casting, or the like, and is pivotally supported upon a pin I I4, which extends between and is supported in the opposite side wall of the keeper 82. A spring H8 is connected between the catch and the keeper body, and continuously urges the safety catch to the active position shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the otherwise continuous body of the keeper 82 is cut away, as indicated at 8, to afford a slot or opening through which the safety catch may move from the active position shown in Fig. 3 to a retired position. It will be noted that the back of the safety catch ll abuts the portion ll. of the body of the striker plate 22, so that such portion H9 forms a limit stop to the rotation thereof under the influence of the spring HO.

Also, as clearly appears in Fig. 3 when the door is in a closed position, the keeper 22 is in a position between the rotary bolt 24 and the previously mentioned dovetail member I2. The upper surface of the keeper 22, as well as the under surface of the dovetail member 12, are downwardly inclined in the direction of a door closing movement. With this relation, the dovetail member 12 tends to serve as a stop to movement of the keeper 22 in the leftward or-door closing'direction as influenced by the bolt 24. The members 24, 22, and I2, accordingly, function in accordance with the functioning of the usual separately formed door dovetails associated with locks of the conventional slidable bolt type, and permit such separate dovetail structures to be entirely dispensed with in the practice of the invention.

Considering the operation as a whole of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 7, the parts are shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 in position occupied thereby when the door is in a fully or tightly closed position. Undr these circumstances, the upper tooth Illa of the outer portion of the rotary bolt 20 bears solidly against the cooperating surface 82 of the keeper 32, forcibly wedging the latter between the bolt 24 and the dovetail member 12. At the same time, the foot of the longest dog It bears solidly against the upper substantially horizontally disposed locking surface 68 associated with the inner portion of the bolt 24. Dog 18 is thus effective to entirely prevent any clockwise rotation of the bolt 24, so that the door is positively held in the Just mentioned fully or tightly closed position.

To open the door, either the outside roll-back 28, or the inside operating link 30 may be actuated, to force the shoulder 84 associated with the dog 80 downwardly, thereby rotating all three of the dogs 16, 1B, and 80 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 4 and 6. This rotation of the dogs, which takes place in opposition to the forces of their associated biasing springs 82, moves the feet thereof out of range of the teeth 52a of the inner portion of the rotary bolt 24, thereby permitting the latter to be freely rotated in a clockwise or door opening direction, in response to the movement thereover of the keeper surface 62 and the safety catch 60.

Upon release of the inside retracting link 3|! or the outside roll-back 28. which may be expected to occur shortly after the keeper safety catch 60 passes beyond the bolt 24, the springs 82 again become effective to return the dogs to the position shown in Fig. 4, in which they are effective to hold the bolt in the corresponding illustrated position.

The return movement of the dogs, also causes the outside roll-back 28 and the inside link 30 to resume the position shown in Fig.5. The movement of the roll-back 2 8 is also influenced by the spring 96, and the movement of the link 30 may also be influenced by the conventional return spring mechanism (not shown) associated therewith.

During a door closing movement, the bolt 24 moves to the right relative to the keeper 32 as viewed in Fig. 3. As the vehicle door approaches a partially closed position, corresponding to the conventional safety position, the safety catch 60 door closing shown in Fig.

tooth nsues the right-hand face of'the upper with the rotaryibolt 24. Continued Ila associated apply a rotative force to the bolt 24. The springs 22, however, associated with the locking dogs, are,

stronger than the spring Ill associated with the safety catch ll, so that no rotative movement of the bolt 24 occurs. Instead, the safety catch 42 rotates in a clockwise direction relative to the keeper O0 to a retired position, in which the keeper 22 may be moved past the upper tooth "a. As soon as the end of the safety catch ll passes beyond the upper bolt tooth, the spring ill associated therewith is rendered eflective to cause the safety catch to return to the active position 3, in which position it is effective to cooperate with the left-hand face of the upper bolt tooth Illa and positively prevents the door from again being fully actuating the dogs designated collectively as 28 to release the bolt 24.

If the door closing movement is continued beyond the safety position just described, the sloping face I20 of the keeper 32 is brought into engagement with the right-hand face of the upper bolt tooth "a, and applies a positive rotative force to the bolt 24. Due to the fact that the bolt holding effect of the dogs, designated collectively as 26, results from the cooperation between the feet thereof and the bolt faces, and not from the strength of it is possible to utilize springs 82 which are relatively weak. Accordingly, a minimum of door closing force is required to render the keeper face I20 effective to rotate the bolt 24 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 3, 4, and 6. During such movement, a leading face 64 of an inner bolt.

ciated with the dog 80, becomes effective to rotate the latter in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, and forcibly continue the rotation of the bolt 24 in the counter-clockwise or door closing direction. At slightly spaced stages in the continued door closing movement, the bolt face 64 successively passes beyond the heels of the dogs 18 and I6, rendering the springs 82 associated with these dogs successively effective to continue the counter-clockwise or door closing rotation of the bolt 24.

It will be appreciated that at any stage of the door closing movement at which the inner bolt face 64 passes beyond the heel of a selected dog, rendering such dog effective to assume the position shown in Fig. 4, such dog becomes effective to prevent a clockwise or door opening movement of the bolt 24. In such instance. any tendency of the bolt to rotate in a clockwise direction applies a substantially radial force to the particular dog. The parts are preferably so adjusted that the shorter dog reaches the just mentioned blocking position as an incident to each door closing movement. Accordingly, even though the vehicle door is only very lightly closed, a positive lock is applied to the door.

With the dog 80 in the blocking position, the two longer dogs 18 and 1B occupy positions in movement causes the catch II toopened, without again the biasing springs 82,

which the springs 82,

Figs. 1 through 7.

associated therewith, are still eiIect-ive to continuously urge the bolt 24 in a counter-clockwise or door closing direction. In addition to being positively held. against an opening movement, accordingly, the door is continuously urged to a further closed position.

In certain instances it may be found that the forces of the springs 82 acting upon the associated longer dogs I6 and 18 will be effective to cause the door closing movement to continue to a point at which the intermediate dog 18 is in the blocking position. In other instances, as where the resistance to further door closing movement is suflicient to prevent such continued movement, it is found that road shocks or, the like cause the door to momentarily move inwardly a slight amount relative to the vehicle body. Any such inward movement immediately relieves the otherwise existing resistance to continued counter-clockwise movement of the bolt 24, and is immediately taken up by a movement of the intermediate dog I8, or the final dog I6 to the blocking position. It will be seen, accordingly, that the several dogs being of slightly different length, assume the blocking positions thereof at different substantially closed positions of the door, and that a minimum expected closing force of the door is suflicient to render at least the shortest dog 80 effective to reach the blocking position, leaving the remaining dogs effective to take up any additional closing movement.

In the modified embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the outside roll-back 28a is arranged to actuate the locking dogs through an intermediary of a pivoted lever I30, which is rotatably supported upon the pin Ia, which also pivotally supports the inside retracting link 30a. The portion I32 of the lever I30 bears directly upon the shoulder 94, which may be associated with the locking dogs in the manner described with reference to the first embodiment, and the portion I34 thereof abuts the nose I36 of the outside roll-back 28a. A spring such as I38 may be, and preferably is, connected between the other end of the lever I30 and the lock casing 224:, and continuously urges the lever I30 and consequently the roll-back 28a to the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9. As in the previously described embodiment, rotation of the inside operating lever 30a in a clockwise direction from the position shown brings the nose I40 thereof into blocking engagement with a projection I42 provided on the outside roll-back 28a, and so prevents actuation of the latter.

In all other respects except those noted above, the construction and arrangement as well as the operation of the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9 preferably duplicates that of the embodiment of From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides extremely effective door lock and keeper constructions, which are simple and economical of manufacture, and which are exceptionally efilcient and satisfactory in operation. It will also be appreciated that the specifically described embodiments are illustrative, and that various modifications in the form, number and arrangement of the described parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a latch for association between two relatively movable parts, a bolt member movably carried by one part for releasable engagement a holding member movably carried by said one part and operatively associated with said bolt member in such relation as to cause said bolt member to bear against said keeper and hold said parts in the closed position, said holding member having an operating foot formed thereon and being movable out of cooperative relation to the bolt as an incident to a closing movement of said parts, inside and outside operators, means respectively responsive to said operators for engaging said foot and so retracting said holding member, locking means responsive to one of said operators for rendering the other operator inefiective to so retract the holding membenand means engageable by said foot as an incident to said first mentioned movement of said holding member for restoring said locking means to unlocked condition thereby rendering said other operator effective.

2. In a latch for association between two relatively movable parts, a bolt movably carried by one part for releasable engagement with a keeper carried by the other part, a holding member movably carried by said one part and operatively with a keeper member carried by the other part, 76

associated with said bolt in such relation as to cause said bolt to bear against said keeper and hold said parts in the closed position, latch operating means engageable with said holding member for moving said holding member out of cooperative relation to said bolt, locking means operable to render said latch operating means ineffective to so move said holding member, and means directly engageable by said holding member and actuated by movement of said holding member for restoring said locking means to unlocked condition thereby rendering said latch operating means effective.

3. In a latch for association between two relatively movable parts, a bolt movably carried by one part for releasable engagement with a keeper carried by the other part, a holding member movably carried by said one part and operatively associated with said bolt in such relation as to cause said bolt to bear against said keeper and hold said parts in the closed position, said holding member having an operating foot formed thereon, latch operating means engageable with said foot for moving said holding member out of cooperative relation to said bolt. locking means operable to render said latch operating means ineffective 'to so move said holding member, and means engageable and movable by said foot during movement of said holding member for restoring said locking means to unlocked condition thereby rendering said latch operating means efiective.

4. Ina latch structure, the combination of a case plate having a base and a flange extending from the base at an angle thereto. a bolt movably carried by said flange for releasable engagement with an associated keeper, a holding member movably carried by said flange and movable between a retracted position in which it releases said bolt and an operative position in which it urges said bolt into engagement with the keeper, latch operating means operable to move said holding member to the retracted position. locking means carried by the base of the case plate and movable to a position in which it renders said latch operating means ineffective, said holding member having a part projecting therefrom towards said base, and resetting means directly engaged and moved by said part during movement of said holding member and being eflective thereby to restore said locking means to the unlocked condition.

5. In a latch structure, a movably mounted bolt render said latch operating means ineilective to disposed to engage a keeper, a movably mounted so cause a retracting movement of said holding holding member disposed to urge the bolt into member, one of said last-mentioned means eflectholding relation to the keeper, latch operating ing its said operation by blocking movement of means comprising a movably mounted rollback, 5 said intermediate member, and the other said an intermediate member coupled between the rollmeans effecting its said operation by blocking back and the holding member in such relation movement of said rollback but not of said interthat a retracting movement of the rollback is mediate member. transmitted to and causes a retracting movement 8. In a latch structure for association with a of the holding member, and locking mechanism closure, a movably mounted bolt disposed to encomprising latch control means and key operated gage a keeper, a movably mounted holding memmeans, each of said means' being operable to her disposed to urge the bolt into holding relation render said latch operating means ineffective to to the keeper, latch operating means comprising so cause a. retracting movement of said holding a movably mounted rollback, an intermediate member, at least one of said last-mentioned m m er c pled between the rollback and the means effecting its said operation by blocking holding member in such relation that a retracting movement of said intermediate member, J movement of the rollback is transmitted to and 6. In a latch for association between two relacauses a retracting movement of the holding tively movable parts, a bolt movably carried by member. locking mechanism ompris l h one part for releasable engagement with akeeperv control means and key er ted means, each of carried by the other part, a holding member movsaid means being operable to render said latch ably carried by said one part and operatively Operating means ineilectiveto so cause aretractassociated with said bolt in such relation as to lug movement of said holding member, one of cause said bolt to bear against said keeper and said last-mentioned means eflecting its said op rhold said parts in the closed position, said holdation y lock ng movement-oi said intermediate ing member having an operating toot formed member, and means operable as an incident to a thereon, first and second latch operating means closing movement of said closure for restoring one and means responsive thereto engageable with oisaid means to unlocked condition. said foot for moving said holding member out of n a latch S e, a movably mounted bolt cooperative relation to said bolt, locking means so disposed o engage a e p o v y m ed operable by one of said latch operating means holding member disposed to urge the bolt int to render the other latch operating means ineflech lding relation to the keeper, latch operating tive to so move said holding member, and means means comprising movably mounted rollback. engageable and movable by said foot during anlntermediatemembercoupled between the rollmovement or said holding members for restoring as back and the holding member in such relation said locking means to unlocked condition thereby that a retracting movement of the rollback is rendering'said other latch operating means eflece transmitted to and causes a retracting movement tive. of the holding member, latch control means actu- 7. In a latch structure, a'movably mount d bolt able in one direction to eflect a retracting movedisposed to engage a keeper, a movably mounted 40- ment of such holding member and operable in holding member disposed to urge the bolt into onother direction to render said latch operatin holding relation to the keeper, latch operating means ineflective to so cause a retracting movemeans comprising a movably mounted rollba k, ment of said holding member. and key operated an intermediate member coupled between the means also operable to render said latch opera rollback and the holding memberin such relation ing means ineilective to so cause a retracting that a retracting movement of the rollback is movement of said holding m 0116 of s transmitted to and causes a retracting movement l h ont ol ns a d l i y op rated means of the holding member, locking mechanism comeffecting i s 81d operation by blocking vemen prising latch control means and key operated of said intermediatemember. means. each or said means being operable to R0110 

